Vent Definition & Meaning

American

British

Idioms

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms vent 1 American [vent] / vɛnt /

noun

1. an opening, as in a wall, serving as an outlet for air, smoke, fumes, or the like.

2. an opening at the earth's surface from which volcanic material, as lava, steam, or gas, is emitted.

3. Zoology. the anal or excretory opening of animals, especially of those below mammals, as birds and reptiles.

4. the small opening at the breech of a gun by which fire is communicated to the charge.

5. a means of exit or escape; an outlet, as from confinement.

6. expression; utterance; release.

   to give vent to one's emotions.

7. Obsolete. the act or fact of venting; emission or discharge.

verb (used with object)

1. to give free play or expression to (an emotion, passion, etc.).

   to vent rage.

2. to give public utterance to.

   to vent one's opinions.

3. to relieve by giving expression to something.

   He vented his disappointment by criticizing his successor.

4. to release or discharge (liquid, smoke, etc.).

5. to furnish or provide with a vent or vents.

verb (used without object)

1. to be relieved of pressure or discharged by means of a vent.

2. (of an otter or other animal) to rise to the surface of the water to breathe.

vent 2 American [vent] / vɛnt /

noun

1. a slit in the back or side of a coat, jacket, or other garment, at the bottom part of a seam.

vent 1 British / vɛnt /

noun

1. a small opening for the passage or escape of fumes, liquids, etc

2. the shaft of a volcano or an aperture in the earth's crust through which lava and gases erupt

3. the external opening of the urinary or genital systems of lower vertebrates

4. a small aperture at the breech of old guns through which the charge was ignited

5. an exit, escape, or passage

6. to release (an emotion, passion, idea, etc) in an utterance or outburst

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

1. to release or give expression or utterance to (an emotion, idea, etc)

   he vents his anger on his wife

2. to provide a vent for or make vents in

3. to let out (steam, liquid, etc) through a vent

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 vent 2 British / vɛnt /

noun

1. a vertical slit at the back or both sides of a jacket

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

1. (tr) to make a vent or vents in (a jacket)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 vent Idioms

More idioms and phrases containing vent

• give vent to

Other Word Forms

• unvented adjective
• venter noun
• ventless adjective

Etymology

Origin of vent1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb venten “to furnish (a vessel) with a vent,” by shortening of Old French esventer (equivalent to es- + -venter, verbal derivative of vent, from Latin ventus “wind”), in later use derivative of the English noun; the noun derives partly from French vent, partly by shortening of French évent ( Old French esvent, derivative of esventer ), and partly derivative of the English verb; ex- 1, wind 1

Origin of vent2

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English vent(e); replacing Middle English fente, from Old French or Middle French, derivative of fendre “to slit,” from Latin findere “to split”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Stray hydrogen is converted into water to minimize the risk of explosions, and filters remove radioactive particles from the gases vented into the air.

From The Wall Street Journal

He’s burned CDs with hours of dog barking audio and pointed speakers into the vents, all in the hopes of flushing Yellow 2120 out.

From Los Angeles Times

Those attending share experiences, recommendations, and vent frustrations.

From BBC

"Life probably required some very specialized conditions to get started, like near volcanoes or hydrothermal vents with complex chemistry," Browne said.

From Science Daily

Others have taken to venting their anger online.

From BBC

Related Words

• chimney
• duct
• flue
• pipe
• ventilator

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.